MMS Blog
By: Derek Korn 25. March 2019
Positive Changes in the Precision CNC Machining World
The 2019 Precision Machining Technology Show will include 300 exhibitors of machining and manufacturing equipment across 70,000 square feet of floor space (both show records).
Some of you know of, or perhaps receive, Production Machining (PM) magazine. From Modern Machine Shop’s publisher, Gardner Business Media (GBM), this sister publication launched in January 2001 and focuses on equipment, technology and processes used in the precision-machined parts industry, particularly CNC turning. Some of you also know about the biennial Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS) that presents new ideas to that industry as well as the Precision Machined Parts Association (PMPA) that aims to assist member shops to better serve the industry.
There have been some notable changes within each of these entities of which you should be aware. These include:
By: Jedd Cole 22. March 2019
March 2019 Product Spotlight: Laser and Waterjet
Omax has expanded its GlobalMax pump series with a 10-hp version for its GlobalMax JetMachining waterjet machines. Designed for educators, job shops, fabricators and manufacturers that need an economical, industrial abrasive waterjet, this pump delivers 30,000 psi to the cutting nozzle. Read More.
Trotec Laser’s SP2000 laser cutter for large-format materials is said to combine a low-maintenance design with high-speed, high-power precision processing. It was designed for materials such as acrylics, wood, textiles and cardboard. With a working area of 66" by 98" and access from all four sides, the laser cutter offers a large working area with an ergonomic design. Read More.
The Mach 100 has been characterized by Flow International as a cost-effective and versatile waterjet machine. As the newest addition to the Mach series, the Mach 100 features many of same essential components as Flow’s other waterjet cutting solutions. With robust cutting capabilities and a programmable Z axis for added flexibility, the waterjet is said to enable operators to tackle a variety of 2D cutting applications. Read More.
Barton International has introduced the Trident-4 integrated diamond cutting head designed for Flow Dynamic Waterjet and Dynamic XD systems. The cutting head features the company’s cartridge technology, making it a direct replacement for Flow Paser-4 cutting heads without the need for an adapter. The company claims that the cutting head provides high accuracy and extended nozzle life, leading to lower operating costs and improved productivity. The cutting head is said to ensure orifice-to-nozzle alignment, which leads to optimal nozzle life. Read More.
The image gallery above, based on Modern Machine Shop magazine’s Modern Equipment Review Spotlight, features a selection of the products we have recently published related laser and waterjet fabrication processes. Find more items in the product page of our Laser and Waterjet Zone.
Swipe through the gallery for details on each product, and follow the caption links for more information.
By: Emily Probst 21. March 2019
PMTS 2019: An Opportunity to Learn
Make plans to catch one (or more) of the eight different Tech Talk educational sessions offered during the Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS 2019), which runs April 2-4 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Ohio. These free sessions, which will take place in the Tech Talk Theater located at the back of the show floor, are scheduled to last 30 minutes and highlight specific technologies and business strategies that can help your shop effectively produce precision turned and machined parts.
Skiving and Shaving, Similar but Not the Same
Speaker: John Detterbeck, President, Lester Detterbeck Enterprises
Real-world examples show how making the right selection between skiving and shaving will affect the outcome. Rules of thumb will be provided.
By: Michael Guckes 20. March 2019
Medical Industry Improves Free Cash Flow
Part of the explanation for the fourth quarter growth in free cash flow is attributable to a simultaneous reduction in capital expenditures. Of the $1 billion increase in free cash flow among the firms Gardner Intelligence studied, the reduction in capital expenditures only accounted for approximately 20 percent of the change.
Gardner Intelligence, the research arm of Modern Machine Shop’s publisher Gardner Business Media, reviewed 67 publicly traded firms in the medical devices and medical instruments/supply industries. By mid-February, nearly 40 percent of those firms had reported fourth quarter results. Evaluating the fourth quarter data from a year ago, as well as on a 12/12 rate-of-change basis (comparing the last 12 months with the preceding 12 months), we see evidence of an industry that continues to perform well despite a myriad economic concerns, both domestic and international.
Interestingly, top-line revenue growth was more than double that of overall economic growth. Among the firms analyzed, the average year-on-year, fourth quarter revenue growth was nearly 9 percent, with a median result of 6 percent. This is more than double the expected rate of 2.4 percent of overall U.S. economic growth that quarter, as reported by CNBC and Moody’s Analytics.
By: Stephanie Hendrixson 19. March 2019
Automakers Focused on Production at First AM Workshop for Automotive
Speakers at the inauguaral Additive Manufacturing Workshop for Automotive emphasized AM’s use in end-use part production. Paul DiLaura of Carbon and Ellen Lee of Ford shared the stage to showcase the first 3D-printed polymer parts in production for Ford vehicles including the Focus, Raptor and Mustang. Read more.
Additive manufacturing (AM) is now understood as a viable production option for the aerospace and medical industries, but what about automotive? Until recently, it was relegated to prototyping and small-volume production in this industry, the argument being that 3D printing could never provide the quantities of end-use parts required for the mainstream auto industry.
With advances in technology and better understanding of AM overall, its role for automakers is changing. In January, sister publication Additive Manufacturing hosted the first Additive Manufacturing Workshop for Automotive (AMWA) at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Detroit’s annual event for the auto industry. The event sold out its space in the Cobo Center, welcoming hundreds of automotive and 3D printing professionals.
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